The Best Wash Day Routine For Growing Natural Hair

Wash day is one of the most important days in a natural girlie’s hair routine but unfortunately, it is also the main step people dread the most. Now there are different reasons why wash day is not the highlight of most people’s routine. For some, the whole process can seem a little intimidating and time-consuming while others are simply confused about how to do it right.

Whichever category you belong to, we’re here to make your wash days easier and less stressful. In this post, we’ll be detailing an easy step-by-step guide on how to wash your natural hair and improve hair growth in the process.

Pre-Poo And Detangling

Natural hair is prone to dryness and tangles but when you start your wash days with a pre-poo(pre-shampoo treatment), you can tackle those issues before you even hop in the shower. 

There are many types of pre-poo treatments you can use but the best ones are either an oil pre-poo with a mix of oils like coconut oil and olive oil or a liquid-based pre-poo mixture with something like aloe vera or flax seed gel. Either of these treatments will lubricate and soften your strands and make it super easy to detangle and comb your natural hair. Just divide the hair into 4-6 sections and apply the pre-poo mixture evenly. Then, use your fingers or a detangling brush to comb through your strands from the ends up to the roots. 

Shampoo

Once your hair is well-prepped, cleansing with a shampoo is the next step. Most shampoos can strip the hair of its natural oils and increase dryness, so try to use a moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo if you can. 

When shampooing, avoid washing the hair all at once. Instead of piling up all your hair together like they do in those shampoo commercials, try to wash in sections to minimise tangles and breakage. Working one section at a time, focus your fingers on the scalp as that is where most of the buildup of oil and dirt lies. Then let the shampoo flow down the length of your hair as your wash. Rinse the hair with warm water after washing.

Conditioning

Conditioning your hair after shampooing is crucial when you have natural hair. This step will bring back the moisture lost during the cleansing step and smoothen your hair strands. You can use a regular conditioner for this step or opt for a deep conditioning hair mask if you want a more intense treatment. 

Apply your favorite conditioner to the hair from roots to ends, making sure the product coats each individual strand of hair. The best way to do this is to work in sections and smooth the product down your hair using a prayer hands motion. If you use a deep conditioner, you will need to leave it in your hair for 30-60 minutes. Additionally, you will need to use a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to do a final detangle before rinsing off your conditioner as this is when your hair is at its smoothest and most manageable. After combing, rinse the hair thoroughly and towel dry with a microfiber towel.

Moisturizing Natural Hair

It is important to replenish your hair with additional moisture after conditioning to minimise frizz and dryness. So, once you are out of the shower, spritz a little bit of water on the hair and apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner. If your hair often feels dry less than a day or two after you moisturise, it means you need to seal that moisture into the hair with some oil or hair butter which will help create a film around your strands and prevent the moisture from escaping.

Protective Styling

Now, if your goal is to grow long and luscious natural hair, it is best to avoid leaving your precious curls and coils fully exposed. Why? Because leaving your hair out means constant manipulation as you try to style it everyday, increasing your chances of dryness and breakage. After moisturising, consider putting the hair in a protective style that will tuck your strands away and keep you from constantly touching them. Try putting your hair in hairstyles like cornrows or two-strand twists. However, if you still want to rock a hairstyle that shows off your natural hair texture while your real hair remains protected, you can wear some of our afro textured wigs. Whether you’ve got loose curls or coils, these wigs will keep you looking stunning while your natural hair stays healthy and flourishes into your desired length.

So there you have it, your basic guide to a hassle-free wash day. As long as you stick with the tips we’ve outlined in this article, your routine will be so seamless, that you’ll look forward to giving your hair that much-needed TLC.